MILWAUKEE – Chicago braved frigid conditions on its way to the Bradley Center Monday night, but came up short in a 4-1 loss to the Central Division-leading Admirals in an Amtrak Cup Rivalry game delayed 38 minutes due to the weather. Milwaukee has won four of five meetings in the season series, including all three on home ice.
Yannick Veilleux scored Chicago’s lone goal – his seventh of the season – as the Wolves were held to a goal for the second straight game.
Milwaukee (21-9-1-0) opened the scoring just 2:18 after the opening faceoff when Felix Girard knocked in his own rebound to the right of Wolves goaltender Jordan Binnington, who was making his first start since Dec. 11.
The teams exchanged goals later in the period. Veilleux helped Chicago (14-12-1-2) briefly tie the game at the 9:49 mark, tucking a backhander under the cross bar on a feed from Evan Trupp. The Admirals answered 54 seconds later when Max Gortz took advantage of traffic in front of the net, lifting a snap shot from the slot.
The Admirals added two power-play goals to pull away. Kevin Fiala, parked behind the net, connected with captain Colton Sissons in the left faceoff dot for a one-timer at 7:36 of the second period. Fiala then scored on a wrister from inside the left circle 10:03 into the third period.
A bright note for the Wolves, right winger Danny Kristo returned to the lineup after being sidelined for five games.
In net, Binnington (6-5-2) finished with 25 saves. Chicago peppered 35 shots on the Admirals, but Juuse Saros (13-3-0) was up to the task, making 34 saves.
The Wolves travel to Rockford on Wednesday for an Illinois Lottery Cup Rivalry game.
ADMIRALS 4, WOLVES 1
Chicago 1 0 0 — 1
Milwaukee 2 1 1 — 4
First Period—1, Milwaukee, Girard 4 (White, Gortz), 2:18; 2, Chicago, Veilleux 7 (Trupp, Barbashev), 9:49; 3-Milwaukee, Gortz 6 (Allen, White), 10:43.
Penalties—Beach, Chicago (2-roughing), 7:12; Devane, Milwaukee (4-roughing), 7:12.
Second Period—4, Milwaukee, Sissons 4 (Fiala, Gaudreau), 7:36, pp.
Penalties—Vaughan, Chicago (2-hooking), 6:29; Fiala, Milwaukee (2-tripping), 10:45; Lindbohm, Chicago (2-roughing), 16:09.
Third Period—5, Milwaukee, Sissons 4 (Fiala, Gaudreau), 7:36, pp.
Penalties—Aberg, Milwaukee (2-hooking), 1:09; Harrold, Chicago (2-tripping), 2:46; Payerl, Milwaukee (2-high sticking), 4:09; Doty, Chicago (2-holding), 9:01; Harrold, Chicago (2-hooking), 10:13; Noonan, Milwaukee (2-interference), 17:04.
Shots on goal—Chicago 11-7-17—35; Milwaukee 9-8-12—29. Power plays—Chicago 0-5; Milwaukee 2-5. Goalies—Chicago, Binnington (0-0); Milwaukee, Saros (0-0). Referees—Tim Mayer and Alex Garon. Linesmen—Ryan Daisy and Chad Roethlisberger.
